Evidences of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church
Posted by ProliferatingTruth on November 28, 2009
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The word “church” is prominent in the first four chapters of Revelation, but is not mentioned again until Revelation 22:16. It is not mentioned during the duration of God’s judgments.
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The church as a corporate body does not appear again until the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, in Revelation 19:7.
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The church has been rewarded before Christ returns to earth in Rev. 19:7-16.
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The phrase “unto the churches”, mentioned so much in the first three chapters of Revelation, is absent in Revelation 13:9: "If any man have an ear, let him hear." Compare this statement to the following one: (Revelation 2:7) "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." The same statement is made to each of the churches in the first portion of Revelation, but cannot be made to the churches during the Tribulation . . . because the church is absent.
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In Revelation 4-19, Christ is seen in Heaven, but earlier, He was seen on earth with the churches.
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The twenty-four elders in Revelation 4:4, 5:8-10 appear to represent the redeemed saints, clothed in “white garments,” symbolizing the imputed righteousness of Christ. They are there before the Tribulation begins. They also declared themselves to be “kings and priests,” as seen in 1 Peter 2:9: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light,” referring to Christians.
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In the description of Christ’s return to the earth in physical rule after the Tribulation, there is no mention of the “living redeemed,” a live church, being translated with glorified bodies into His presence from among the people of the earth (see Revelation 19:11-16). 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 describes the transformation of the bodies of the “snatched away” saints into glorified bodies. This is not mentioned after the Tribulation.
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The Tribulation period is a period filled with the wrath of God ¾ a strong rebuttal to those who would teach the mid-Tribulation or "Pre-Wrath" Rapture; all the events from Revelation 5 to Revelation 19 are caused by the judgment of God; it’s not only the wrath, but also the judgment of God that is emphasized in the Revelation.
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The seven-year Tribulation is the final week of years in God’s dealings with Israel; His purpose is to bring His erring Nation to Him; the Church, having been saved under a different dispensation, will not be required to endure God’s judgment against His people (see Daniel 9).
